In the highly anticipated Music City Bowl matchup, the Auburn Tigers and the Maryland Terrapins are set to clash on December 30th at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. As both teams gear up for the contest, several key players will be notably absent, which is expected to have a significant impact on the outcome.

The Auburn Tigers currently hold the series edge with a 2-1 record against the Maryland Terrapins. Notably, all three matchups took place in the state of Alabama. Maryland secured a victory over Auburn back in 1952 in Birmingham, while the Tigers had their revenge in 1958 and 1983 with wins in Auburn.

One of the most memorable encounters between the two teams occurred in the 1983 game, featuring two top-ranked teams. The No. 7 ranked Maryland, led by quarterback Boomer Esiason, faced off against the No. 3 ranked Auburn, led by running back Bo Jackson. Auburn emerged victorious, with Jackson being one of three Auburn players to rush for over 100 yards in the game.

Looking forward to the 2023 Music City Bowl, both teams will have to navigate the absence of key players. Maryland will face the challenge of playing without their starting quarterback, Taulia Tagovailoa, who holds the distinction of being the all-time leading passer in Big Ten history. This absence certainly poses a significant hurdle for the Terrapins' offense.

On the Auburn side, the defense will be without cornerbacks DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett, along with defensive tackle Marcus Harris. Their absence jeopardizes Auburn's defensive strategy, and the team will have to work harder to compensate for their absence.

It's essential to keep in mind that the team statistics from the 2023 season may not entirely reflect the upcoming bowl game due to these key absences. With both teams missing crucial players, the dynamics of the game could differ significantly from the regular season performance.

Analyzing the season statistics, Auburn's offense has struggled in certain areas. They currently rank 88th in total offense, averaging 355.5 yards per game. Furthermore, their passing offense has been lackluster, ranked 122nd with 157.1 yards per game. However, Auburn's rushing offense has been a bright spot, ranked 14th with an average of 198.4 yards per game.

Defensively, Auburn stands at 50th in total defense, allowing an average of 361.1 yards per game. In terms of points allowed, they rank 35th, giving up 21.9 points per game. Additionally, their passing defense has performed relatively well, ranked 30th with 201.7 passing yards allowed per game. However, their rush defense has struggled, placing 80th, allowing an average of 159.4 rushing yards per game.

Key players to watch on Auburn's offense include running back Jarquez Hunter, who leads the team in rushing with 896 yards and an impressive average of 5.9 yards per carry. Tight end Rivaldo Fairweather has been a reliable target, leading the team in receiving yards with 349 and recording six touchdowns.

On the Maryland side, their offense has shown more efficiency in certain areas. They rank 55th in total offense, averaging 393.8 yards per game. Their passing offense has been a strength, ranked 20th with an average of 284.8 yards per game. However, their rushing offense struggled, ranking 114th with an average of 108.9 yards per game.

Defensively, the Terrapins have performed solidly, standing at 34th in total defense, allowing an average of 336.9 yards per game. In terms of points allowed, they rank 46th, giving up an average of 23.2 points per game. Their passing defense has been strong, ranked 40th with 207.3 yards allowed per game. Meanwhile, their rush defense stands at 33rd, allowing an average of 129.6 rushing yards per game.

Maryland's leading rusher, Roman Hemby, has amassed 663 yards on the ground with an average of 4.9 yards per carry. Jeshuan Jones leads the team in receiving yards with 741 and four touchdowns, closely followed by Tai Felton with 723 yards and two touchdowns.

Both teams face adversity in terms of player absences, making for an unpredictable matchup in the Music City Bowl. Maryland will have to cope without their star quarterback and key defensive contributors, while Auburn will need to adjust its defensive strategy without three key players. Ultimately, the depth and adaptability of each team will be put to the test as they battle for victory in Nashville.